Jim Deane finally joins the Australian Football Hall of Fame as one of six inductees

South Australian football great Jim Deane has joined the parade of champions in the Australian Football Hall of Fame as one of six new inductees.

Jim Deane’s reputation as one of SA’s finest footballers is finally acknowledged in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Deane on Tuesday night became the 46th SA football hero to join the grandest pantheon of Australian football, although many remain surprised he was not part of the initial inductions in 1996.

Hall of Fame “Legend” Malcolm Blight on Tuesday night noted Deane’s reputation - in SANFL at South Adelaide, VFL with Richmond and country football, along with his record of a top-two finish in five Magarey Medal counts - merits a place in the Hall of Fame.

Jim Deane being presented with the Magarey Medal in 1953.

Jim Deane shows off his trademark stab kick with Richmond in 1955.

“Jim’s amazing record in the SANFL says he belongs in the Hall,” Blight said.

Another South Adelaide hero, Peter Darley, hailed Deane’s rise to the Hall saying: “His record and achievements speak for themselves.

“He became more of a legend after his career had ended when people realised just how good he was.”

Deane, who died in 2010, played 157 SANFL league games with South Adelaide from 1945-1953 and 1956-57 with a 33-game stint in the VFL with Richmond in between his two runs with the Panthers. He represented SA 15 times.

The Hall added six new members to take its count to 287 since inception in 1996.

Deane is joined in the Hall by:

Brownlow Medallist BRAD HARDIE.

MICHAEL MALTHOUSE, who holds the record for the most VFL-AFL games as a coach, 718.

Carlton premiership hero KEN HUNTER.

St Kilda cult figure TREVOR BARKER.

Former AFL Commission chairman RON EVANS, one of the major administrative forces in the game’s national agenda from 1993-2007. He also was a leading goalkicker in the VFL and WAFL.

AFL Hall of Fame inductees at Crown Palladium. Inductees Brad Hardie, Mick Malthouse and Ken Hunter. Deceased inductees Ron Evans (represented by his wife Andrea) and Jim Deane (represented by his son Michael). Trevor Barker was also a deceased inductee but his mother wasn't present. Picture: Jay Town

For the first time since 1995 - when the AFL pre-inducted the seriously ill Ted Whitten - the Hall has pre-announced an inductee.

Brownlow Medallist and Brisbane premiership midfielder Simon Black will be presented as a Hall of Famer next year after being unable to attend Tuesday night’s black-tie ceremony. He is overseas on a trip that could not be re-arranged.

Deane’s award was accepted by his son Michael, who was part of a 23-strong family contingent at the ceremony in Melbourne.

“It is sad he is not here for this moment with the Hall of Fame,” Michael Deane said. “But he would have been celebrating this moment as much as all his other success in a game he loved.”

Jim Deane with former South Adelaide and Crows player Clay Sampson sitting in the Jim Deane Grandstand at Noarlunga Oval in Jun 2003.

Deane was awarded the 1953 Magarey Medal and handed the 1957 Medal - after being deprived the trophy on countback to West Adelaide half-forward Ron Benton - in a retrospective ceremony in 1998. He also was the Magarey Medal runner-up in 1949, 1950 and 1951.

Deane’s reputation at South Adelaide is emphasised with his six Knuckey Cups as the Panthers’ club champion in 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1956 and 1957.

SA’s “King” of football, Neil Kerley noted: “The only way for those outside SA to understand how good was Jimmy is to make the comparison with (Hall of Fame Legend) Bobby Skilton. And it fits.”

There was no ‘Legend” elevated in the Hall on Tuesday night. The new Hall of Fame charter has “Legends” - those who “caused the game to change significantly for the better” - promoted every two years with the next rise in 2020.

AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME HONOUR ROLL

Jim Deane training at Adelaide Oval in 1957.

JIM DEANE

Born: January 2, 1928.

Died: November 13, 2010.

Played: 157 SANFL league games with South Adelaide (1945-1953 and 1956-57), 33 VFL league games with Richmond (1954-55) and represented South Australia 15 times.

Scored: 124 goals (95 with South Adelaide, 17 with Richmond and 12 for South Australia).

Non-league football: Five seasons as captain-coach at Myrtleford in the Ovens and Murray Football League (1958-62); five seasons as captain-coach at Ports (Port Pirie) in the Spencer Gulf Football League (1963-67) with 1965 premiership win; one season with Props (Port Pirie) in SGFL as coach with 1968 premiership win.

Honours: Captain, South Adelaide (1951-1953, 1956-1957); Magarey Medallist, 1953 and 1957; runner-up, 1949, 1950 and 1951); South Adelaide best-and-fairest, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1956 and 1957; Tomkins Medallist, SANFL under-19s in 1945; SA Football Hall of Fame, 2002.

Coached: South Adelaide, 1951-1953 and 1970-1971.

Trevor Barker flies against Footscray in 1981.

TREVOR BARKER

Played: 230 VFL-AFL games with St Kilda, 1975-1989; kicked 134 goals. Represented Victoria seven times.

Honours: St Kilda best-and-fairest, 1976 and 1981; St Kilda captain, 1983-1986; St Kilda Team of the Century; St Kilda Hall of Fame, Legend.

Ron Evans, has a kick for goal against Essendon in 1960.

RON EVANS

Played: 64 VFL games with Essendon, 1958-1962; kicked 210 goals; 60 WAFL games with West Perth, 1963-1965; kicked 271 goals. Represented Victoria five times.

Honours: VFL leading goalkicker, 1959 and 1960; WAFL leading goalkicker, 1963; Essendon leading goalkicker, 1959 and 1960.

Administration: AFL Commission, 1993-2007; AFL Commission chairman, 1998-2007; Essendon Football Club board, 1978-1992; Essendon president, 1988-1992.

1985 Brownlow Medallist Brad Hardie in action for Footscray. Picture: Getty Images)

BRAD HARDIE

Played: 47 AFL games with Footscray, 1985-1986; kicked 28 goals; 101 AFL games with Brisbane, 1987-1991; kicked 192 goals;two AFL games with Collingwood, 1992; kicked two goals; 140 WAFL games with South Fremantle, 1979-1984; kicked 308 goals. Represented WA nine times, Queensland once and Australia four times.

Honours: Brownlow Medal, 1985; All-Australian, 1984 and 1986; Footscray best-and-fairest, 1986; Brisbane leading goalkicker, 1989 and 1990; Tassie Medal, 1984 and 1986 and Simpson Medal, 1984 and 1986.

Ken Hunter flies for a grab over Mark Lee and Mike Fitzpatrick in the 1982 VFL Grand Final.

KEN HUNTER

Played: 147 VFL games with Carlton, 1981-1989; kicked 160 goals; 99 WAFL games with Claremont, 1975-1980; kicked 23 goals.Represented WA 10 times.

Honours: Carlton premiership player, 1981, 1982 and 1987; All-Australian, 1979 and 1980; Carlton best-and-fairest, 1981; Carlton leading goalkicker, 1983; WA Team of the Century; Carlton Team of the Century; Carlton Hall of Fame.

Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell and Mick Malthouse hoist aloft the 2010 premiership cup.

MICK MALTHOUSE

Played: 53 VFL games with St Kilda, 1972-1976; kicked five goals; 121 VFL games with Richmond, 1976-1983; kicked 10 goals.

Coached: Footscray, 1984-1989; West Coast, 1990-1999; Collingwood, 2000-2011; Carlton, 2013-2015. Total games, VFL-AFL record 718. WA three times, Australia four times.

Honours: Premiership player with Richmond, 1980; Premiership coach, 1992 and 1994 with West Coast and 2010 with Collingwood; All-Australian coach, 1991 and 2010.

[e-mail]